Release date | 8 February 2010 (Update) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Members | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combat level | 103 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
XP per kill | 805 (and 265.6 experience) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Examine text | Burrowed: I'm pretty sure there's something under there. Above ground: I dread to think of how many of these are in the sand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slayer info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slayer level | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slayer XP | 301.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assigned by | Sumona, Duradel or Lapalok, Kuradal, Morvran | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Desert strykewyrms are Slayer monsters located east of Al Kharid, through the east gate. They may only be killed if a player is assigned to kill them by a Slayer master (level 77 Slayer required). You cannot use temporary boosts, as you need to be assigned these from your master.
Note that the desert in this area no longer drains life points. As such, waterskins are unnecessary.
A wyrm initially appears as a mound on the ground; the mound may be still or be moving about. Before battle can be initiated with the wyrm, a player must investigate the mound by clicking on it. This causes the player's character to perform the Stomp emote, after which the wyrm bursts out of the ground. When the wyrm appears, the player should immediately click on it to initiate combat, as otherwise a small amount of time will be wasted before combat begins.
Desert strykewyrms are an excellent source of various noted items, and the occasional focus sight, which is needed to create a full slayer helmet. If the player is not currently assigned a desert strykewyrm task, investigating the mound still causes the player's character to perform the stomp emote, but the wyrm does not burst forth. Instead, the character will then perform the Think emote.
Killing a strykewyrm is one of the elite Desert Tasks. A single strykewyrm can be killed without a slayer assignment if the assigned equipment is used.
Attacks
The desert strykewyrm's standard attacks are melee and magical ranged. The wyrm will usually use melee and only occasionally use magical range when the player is not within melee range. This attack however, rarely hits and even if it hits, it usually does not hit over 100.
The desert strykewyrm also has a special attack which consists of it burrowing under the ground, moving toward the player fighting it, and then bursting out of the ground which can deal 500-2000 damage. Running over the strykewyrm right as it bursts out of the ground will hit the player twice with its special attack, possibly adding up to 4000 damage.
The special attack may be avoided by running 2-3 squares away from where the player was standing when the wyrm starts to burrow. Timing is important; hesitating a moment when the wyrm burrows could cause the wyrm's special attack to hit. Many players run directly away from the wyrm when it burrows, but depending on your reaction time, this might not be a good idea, so running to the sides is a good idea for those with laggy computers or if they are too slow to react to the attack.
Sometimes the desert strykewyrm will be stunned when it emerges from the ground. It will not be able to use its special attack until this wears off.
Tips
When running away from the special attack, it is best to click on the ground itself instead of the minimap, as the player can react to the tactical situation in the area. A player should not click on another mound when trying to get away, as the player will run up to (not onto) the mound and stop, which might leave the player too close to the surfacing wyrm.
Desert strykewyrms have a high amount of health for their level, but have low defence, making it quite easy with powerful weapons to cause a large amount of damage. The wyrm's special attack can be disabled by standing near any kind of obstacle. There are cacti and bushes around their area, but they are relatively spread out and few in number.
This special attack occurs on average once every 15-20 attacks. Depending upon how fast the player can kill a desert strykewyrm, the special attack may or may not occur with each wyrm battle, but one special attack per 2 or 3 wyrms is very likely.
For players who have difficulty moving out of the way in time, it is advised to range strykewyrms from a distance. Range them at the maximum distance of your crossbow/shortbow/shieldbow so that you will have more time to spot and avoid their special attack. Desert strykewyrms are more resistant to ranged than they are to melee, but the ranged attack they use at a distance will also deal very low damage to a player wearing ranged armour.
Drops
Charms
No charm | ||||
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80–81% | 4% | 2% | 12% | 0.9–1.1% |
Represents a 90% confidence range based on a sample of 44,333 kills. 1 charm is dropped at a time. Add data to the log (requires JavaScript). |
Runes and talismans
Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
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Death rune | 15 | Uncommon | 3,480 | |
Water rune | 2–100 | Uncommon[1] | 50–2,500 | |
Law rune | 15 | Uncommon | 8,550 | |
Air talisman | 1 | Uncommon | 498 | |
Earth talisman | 1 | Uncommon | 185 | |
Fire talisman | 1 | Uncommon | 209 | |
Body talisman | 1 | Rare | 407 | |
Mind talisman | 1 | Rare | 203 | |
Water talisman | 1 | Very rare | 2,528 |
Weapons and armour
Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mithril battleaxe | 1–2 | Uncommon | 3,550–7,100 | |
Rune hatchet | 1 | Uncommon | 9,120 | |
Focus sight | 1 | Rare[2] | 15,687 |
Seeds
Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
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Cadantine seed | 1 | Common | 1,438 | |
Avantoe seed | 1 | Uncommon | 375 | |
Kwuarm seed | 1 | Uncommon | 12,857 | |
Toadflax seed | 1 | Uncommon | 9,872 | |
Irit seed | 1 | Uncommon | 1,018 | |
Watermelon seed | 1 | Uncommon | 3,590 | |
Ranarr seed | 1 | Uncommon | 976 | |
Poison ivy seed | 1 | Uncommon | 302 | |
Belladonna seed | 1 | Uncommon | 1,007 | |
Cactus seed | 1 | Uncommon | 1,016 | |
Lantadyme seed | 1 | Uncommon | 726 | |
Dwarf weed seed | 1 | Rare | 822 | |
Maple seed | 1 | Very rare | 8,519 | |
Yew seed | 1 | Very rare | 15,302 |
Herbs
Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
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Grimy guam | 1–4 (noted) | Common | 709–2,836 | |
Grimy marrentill | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 2,307–9,228 | |
Grimy lantadyme | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 7,551–30,204 | |
Grimy avantoe | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 1,043–4,172 | |
Grimy cadantine | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 4,322–17,288 | |
Grimy dwarf weed | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 8,476–33,904 | |
Grimy harralander | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 741–2,964 | |
Grimy toadflax | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 11,250–45,000 | |
Grimy irit | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 5,008–20,032 | |
Grimy kwuarm | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 11,782–47,128 | |
Grimy ranarr | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 1,860–7,440 | |
Grimy tarromin | 1–4 (noted) | Uncommon | 105–420 |
Other drops
Note: Can occasionally drop two drops at once.
Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
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Coins | 200; 240; 286; 338–400; 440; 1,201–4,500 | Common[3] | 200–4,500 | |
Waterskin (4) | 2 | Common | 950 | |
Super defence (2) | 1 | Common | 4,780 | |
Potato cactus | 3; 5–18 (noted) | Common | 15,747–94,482 | |
Yew logs | 10 (noted) | Common | 1,670 | |
Pure essence | 120 (noted) | Common | 3,600 | |
Swordfish | 2 | Uncommon | 314 | |
Adamant bar | 3 (noted) | Uncommon | 5,283 | |
Anagogic ort | 20 | Uncommon[4] | Not sold | |
Goat horn dust | 3 (noted) | Common | 8,700 | |
Uncut sapphire | 1 | Common[5] | 809 | |
Uncut emerald | 1 | Uncommon[5] | 2,555 | |
Clue scroll (hard) | 1 | Rare | Not sold | |
Court summons | 1 | Rare | Not sold | |
Spirit sapphire | 1 | Rare | Not sold | |
Spirit emerald | 1 | Rare | Not sold | |
Spirit ruby | 1 | Rare | Not sold | |
Uncut ruby | 1 | Rare[5] | 1,842 | |
Starved ancient effigy | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Clue scroll (elite) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Uncut diamond | 1 | Very rare[5] | 4,843 |
Rare drop table drops
- This monster has access to the rare drop table.
Luck-enhancing items such as a ring of wealth or luck of the dwarves are not required to access the table.
Show/hide rare drop table | ||||
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Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
Coins | 250–500 | Common | 250–500 | |
Uncut sapphire | 1 | Common | 809 | |
Uncut emerald | 1 | Common | 2,555 | |
Uncut ruby | 1 | Common | 1,842 | |
Uncut diamond | 1 | Common | 4,843 | |
Uncut diamond | 45–55 (noted) | Rare | 217,935–266,365 | |
Loop half of a key | 1 | Common | 11,053 | |
Tooth half of a key | 1 | Common | 11,538 | |
Uncut dragonstone | 1 | Uncommon | 12,077 | |
Uncut dragonstone | 45–55 (noted) | Rare | 543,465–664,235 | |
Dragon longsword | 1 | Common | 56,212 | |
Dragon spear | 1 | Rare | 35,861 | |
Battlestaff | 180–220 (noted) | Rare | 542,160–662,640 | |
Rune javelin | 5 | Rare | 905 | |
Rune platebody | 1 | Uncommon | 37,480 | |
Rune platebody | 15–25 (noted) | Rare | 562,200–937,000 | |
Shield left half | 1 | Rare | 64,399 | |
Dragon helm | 1 | Uncommon | 58,601 | |
Rune arrowheads | 113–137 | Common | 14,916–18,084 | |
Onyx bolts | 135–165 | Very rare | 1,003,725–1,226,775 | |
Chaos talisman | 1 | Rare | 1,923 | |
Nature talisman | 1 | Rare | 1,473 | |
Water talisman | 65–82 (noted) | Rare | 164,320–207,296 | |
Earth talisman | 65–82 (noted) | Rare | 12,025–15,170 | |
Fire talisman | 25–35 (noted) | Rare | 5,225–7,315 | |
Raw lobster | 135–165 (noted) | Common | 47,655–58,245 | |
Raw shark | 225–275 (noted) | Uncommon | 321,075–392,425 | |
Big bones | 68–82 (noted) | Uncommon | 13,804–16,646 | |
Dragon bones | 180–220 (noted) | Rare | 384,480–469,920 | |
Coal | 200–1,100 (noted) | Uncommon | 22,400–123,200 | |
Gold ore | 90–110 (noted) | Common | 52,830–64,570 | |
Adamantite ore | 180–220 (noted) | Uncommon | 40,860–49,940 | |
Adamant bar | 14–16 (noted) | Common | 24,654–28,176 | |
Adamant bar | 135–165 (noted) | Rare | 237,735–290,565 | |
Runite ore | 90–110 (noted) | Rare | 127,710–156,090 | |
Rune bar | 3 (noted) | Common | 8,955 | |
Rune bar | 45–55 (noted) | Rare | 134,325–164,175 | |
Grimy torstol | 90–110 (noted) | Uncommon | 485,010–592,790 | |
Grimy snapdragon | 90–110 (noted) | Uncommon | 161,010–196,790 | |
Super restore (4) | 45–55 (noted) | Uncommon | 125,910–153,890 | |
Prayer potion (4) | 45–55 (noted) | Uncommon | 130,950–160,050 | |
Lantadyme seed | 14–16 | Uncommon | 10,164–11,616 | |
Dwarf weed seed | 14–16 | Uncommon | 11,508–13,152 | |
Magic seed | 4 | Uncommon | 209,856 | |
Palm tree seed | 10 | Rare | 396,000 | |
Flax | 450–550 (noted) | Common | 43,200–52,800 | |
Molten glass | 45–55 (noted) | Common | 27,585–33,715 | |
Soft clay | 450–550 (noted) | Uncommon | 188,550–230,450 | |
Yew logs | 68–82 (noted) | Uncommon | 11,356–13,694 | |
Yew logs | 675–825 (noted) | Rare | 112,725–137,775 | |
Teak plank | 45–55 (noted) | Uncommon | 16,740–20,460 | |
Mahogany plank | 270–330 (noted) | Rare | 356,670–435,930 | |
Blurberry Special | 1 | Uncommon | 12,008 | |
Vecna skull | 1 | Very rare* | 124,871 | |
Hazelmere's signet ring | 1 | Very rare* | 1,432,268,388 | |
Brawling gloves (Melee) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Magic) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Ranged) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Agility) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Cooking) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (FM) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Fishing) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Hunter) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Mining) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Prayer) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Smithing) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (Thieving) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Brawling gloves (WC) | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Crystal triskelion fragment 1 | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Crystal triskelion fragment 2 | 1 | Very rare | Not sold | |
Crystal triskelion fragment 3 | 1 | Very rare | Not sold |
Universal drops
- Universal drops are dropped by nearly every monster outside of Daemonheim.
- These drops are dropped alongside main drops.
Item | Quantity | Rarity | GE price | |
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Key token | 1 | Rare | Not sold | |
Mimic kill token | 1 | Very rare | 5,575 |
Trivia
- Using the stomp emote to attract the strykewyrm is possibly a reference to the sandworms (Shai'Hulud) from Frank Herbert's Dune novel series, which share some common characteristics.
- As with all other strykewyrms, desert strykewyrms can attack diagonally with melee.
- The release of strykewyrms was hinted at by the Twitter hint, "Three strykes and they're out" and the Chaos Elemental hint in the Postbag From the Hedge a few weeks earlier.
- Desert strykewyrms, along with the rest of the strykewyrms, were the first monsters in RuneScape that made use of Particle Effects.
- In the lead up to the release of Strykewyrms, the encrypted message from the Chaos Elemental in Postbag from the Hedge contained the phrase 'from beneath you, it devours' - this possibly relates simultaneously to the burrowing nature of the strykewyrms and also that they were slayer-related content. 'From beneath you, it devours' is a recurring phrase in season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- If a player runs behind an obstacle just as a strykewyrm burrows into the ground, the strykewyrm will disappear. Although it will seem to respawn normally, it will leave no drops. This will not count towards a kill, and it has not been fixed yet.
Monsters |
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Drops |
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Other |
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